You have seen Hollywood celebrities use it on Dancing with the Stars, you have heard the hosts ofThe Social talk about it on the show as a safe and effective way to relieve pain and speed up injury recovery. Whole Body Cryotherapy is the process, originally conceived for arthritis pain management decades ago, that is usually conducted in a special cryotherapy equipment.
Cryotherapy Equipment: 2 Types
There are two types of cryotherapy equipment – a cryo chamber that is similar to a traditional sauna occurring in a room where persons wearing garments to protect from frostbite enter just like they would one stockpiled with lava rocks, and another that resembles more a stand up tanning bed that encapsulates an individual while leaving their head exposed above the unit.
Cryo Chamber: Walk-In Cryotherapy Equipment
The cryotherapy chamber is typically filled with liquid nitrogen, which is a colorless, odorless, extremely cold liquid with a boiling point of -196°C. The liquid nitrogen is pumped into the chamber, where it rapidly evaporates, creating a cold, dry gas that cools the air inside the chamber.
The chamber is designed to maintain a consistent temperature between -110°C to -140°C, which is much colder than the temperature that can be achieved with traditional ice packs or cold compresses. The temperature in the chamber is typically monitored and controlled by a computer system that regulates the flow of liquid nitrogen into the chamber.
When a person enters the chamber, the cold air rapidly cools the skin, which can trigger the body’s natural response to cold, such as the constriction of peripheral blood vessels and the release of endorphins. The cold air also penetrates the skin and reaches the body’s core, which can cause a drop in the internal temperature of the body.
Cryosauna: Stand-In Cryotherapy Equipment & Protective Gear
A cryosauna functions pretty much in the same way as a cryo chamber, but the difference is that it is typically much smaller in size as it is meant to fit 1 person. This, of course, makes it the preferred choice for most local spas and treatment centers due to lesser space requirements.
In most applications, liquid nitrogen (or cooled compressed air) is pumped into the cryosauna, which rapidly reduces the temperature of the skin’s surface enough to prompt internal healing responses. These include releasing endorphins for immediate pain relief, prompting immune responses in defense of the external stimuli and numbing pain recepting nerves. Initially, the benefits of cryotherapy are short term, with the most powerful effects being evident for a few hours after treatment (usually up to 6 hours).
To prevent frostbite or other cold-related injuries, the person in the cryosauna typically wears gloves, socks, and special shoes to protect the extremities, as well as a mask to protect the face. The person may also be instructed to move around or perform light exercises to promote blood flow and increase the effectiveness of the treatment.
Cryo saunas are becoming increasingly popular thanks to both the media and cutting edge medical research. Athletes worldwide have found that cold therapy can dramatically improve recovery time following an event or training and that it’s also very effective for speeding healing following an injury. Elite sports teams in the US actually own a cryo chamber or a cryotherapy sauna so that the athletes can have easy access to the healing treatments right after practice or after a game.
Benefits & Risks
Longer term effects are observed in many individuals for weeks following the procedure. The process of supercooling the skin’s surface for the sake of pain relief has been proven effective for a wide range of health conditions, and its used as a treatment for osteoporosis and arthritis, used for recovery time in athletes, and even being explored as an effective natural treatment for eczema and other skin conditions.
For all of these positive results however, there may still be some concerns about cryotherapy side effects, and some individuals are well warranted in their hesitation. Read this article to learn more about contraindications and the safest way to avoid any unlikely side effects, including protective footwear.
Recent research has found that while cryotherapy was initially developed for various types of chronic pain management, it’s uses may reach far beyond joint and muscle pain. Cryo skin treatment for uncomfortable conditions like psoriasis and eczema have been extremely successful, adding more excitement to the repertoire of uses for the natural and low risk procedure.
However, while the cost of cryotherapy and its problematic relationship with the health insurance industry may keep some from giving it a try, the purportedly unknown factor in terms of cryotherapy side effects is what many people may be concerned about that keep them out of a cryosauna. The simple truth is that reputable clinics that employ skilled and trained practitioners make every effort to ensure the safe use of cryotherapy equipment, and in otherwise healthy individuals, there is virtually no risk in freezing the pain away.
Affordability
The cold therapy is becoming more popular and more affordable in Canada. And although it is still somewhat uncommon to find cryotherapy equipment at many sports injury clinic Toronto locations, the increasing awareness about cold therapy saunas has produced noticeable results. Cryotherapy equipment overview is available at our Cryotherapy Toronto spa during your initial free consultation that you can book either by calling us or filling out the contact form. You can also book your $29 trial session if you are a new client, or select a well-priced package from our price list.
Watch our celebrity client Sean Fagan with over 300,000 Youtube subscribers discuss his experience with cryotherapy equipment in action at our Cryotherapy Toronto center.